updated 07:00 pm EDT, Thu September 19, 2013

Sales of the iPhone have begun in eastern Australia, with customers lining up to be among the first in the world to buy one of the new iPhone models at retail. As expected, interest is high in the new iPhone 5s -- however, our reporter in line in Penrith (a city not far from Sydney) reports that while stores have "plenty" of the silver and "Space Gray" models on hand, the prized "gold" model is in short supply, with the Penrith Apple Store having 50 or fewer units on hand, while well over 200 potential customers lined up prior to opening.

Apple support staff have handed customers "reservation cards" to ensure that they get what they are waiting for, with the gold iPhone option in all configurations selling out quickly. Those who could not get the gold iPhone 5s are being pointed to Apple's online store for fulfillment, however as reported on AppleInsider, Apple now posts a 7-10 day minimum wait for that model, and in some cases has moved the expected delivery day to simply "October."

MacNN can confirm that the popular carriers in Australia (such as Telstra) have only received the "Space Gray" models and are awaiting stock of other options. Customers interviewed in line are understandably disappointed by the constrained supply of the gold model.